Coin operated game board



1962 c. J. ERICKSON 3,018,107

com OPERATED GAME BOARD Filed Jan. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Cscn. J Emczsou 1952 c. J. ERICKSON 3,018,

COIN OPERATED GAME "BOARD Filed Jan. 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

V-QMM A OQ NEYS United States atent page 3,018,107 COIN QPERATED GAME BOARD Cecil John Erickson, Saline, Kane; Roy (J. Erickson, administrator of said Cecil John Erickson, deceased Filed Jan. 10, 1958., Ser. No. 798,326 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-136) The present invention generaly appertains to improve ments in game apparatus and more particularly relates to a coin operated game board which is primarily of the type used for playing checkers, chess or the like games wherein a playing surface is involved and game pieces are moved over the playing surface.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a game board of the above type wherein the playing surface is only visible upon the use of a coin for operating a coin mechanism and wherein the playing surface is illuminated for a predetermined time, dependent upon the particular coin that is used.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus wherein the playing surface, over which game pieces are moved to fulfill the particular purpose of the game, is visible for the fulfillment of the end purpose of the game for a period of time that is controlled by a time means, which time means is initally actuated by a coin operated means.

In accordance with the present invention, a game board is provided which may be used for playing checkers, chess or the like game wherein a playing surface is involved and which also includes the use of game pieces or the like objects which are moved over the playing surface for the fulfillment of the purpose of the game. In order to play the game, a playing surface is mandatory. It is the aim and purpose of this invention to provide such a game board with a playing surface that can be used for playing the game but which playing surface is only visible for a predetermined amount of time upon the use of coins. In other words, it is the primary purpose of this invention to provide a game apparatus wherein the playing surface, which can be used for playing various types of games, is visible for a predetermined amount of time upon the use of a particular coin or coins. Therefore, the playing surface is visible only upon the use of a predetermined coin or coins and remains visible for a predetermined amount of time, dependent upon the timing means that is initially actuated by a coin mechanism. The particular embodiment of the present invention includes a table which has a transparent top, below which a housing, that is protected against tampering, is disposed. Within the housing, the mechanism for controlling the selected illumination of the top is disposed and the coin operating means is protectively housed therein. When the coin mechanism is actuated, upon the use of the required coin or coins, the timing mechanism is set in operation and a circuit is completed for an illumination means, which illuminates the playing surface. Upon the illumination of the playing surface, irrespective of the game that may be involved, the game pieces may then be moved over the playing surface but not in direct contact therewith. In other words, between the involved playing surface and the game pieces, there is a means which prevents direct contact and direct visibility with and of the playing surface.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, compact and practical game apparatus, which is controlled by a coin mechanism so that it cannot be used except upon the use of particular coin or coins and only for a particular period, dependent upon the timing mechanism.

The foregoing and ancillary objects are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the game apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the illumination means in operation so as to expose the playing surface and showing: game pieces on the game board;

FIGURE 3 is horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view showing the various components of the top or playing surface of the game board.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates the game apparatus of this invention. The game apparatus 10 includes a housing 12, which is supported in a horizontal position by vertical legs 14 so that the housing in effect constitutes a table. The housing 12 comprises a bottom wall 16 and side walls 18, the housing being rectangular in cross-section.

Within the confines of the housing, illumination means 20 is provided, such means being, for exemplary purposes, in the form of annular neon tubes. In this regard, it is understood that any particular type of illumination means may be housed within the housing.

A coin actuated switch means 22 is operatively mounted in the side Wall ISA, as shown in FIGURE 1, and such means is conventional in purpose and operation. Preferably, the coin actuated means 22 is of the type wherein two coins are required to complete the necessary circuit, which includes the lead conductors 24 from any suitable source of electrical energy through to the coin operating means 22 and a time mechanism 26. The time mechanism is connected in series with the coin actuated means 22 and controls the extent, in period of time, of the illumination means 20 so that the illumination means 20 is operative for the amount of time which is governed by the timer mechanism 26.

The tubes 20 are supported on a suitable mounting means 28, which is secured by an anchoring means 30 to the bottom wall 16 of the housing 12.. In this regard, the illumination means 20 is secured on. the bottom wall in a position to cast their rays through the top wall 32 of the housing.

The top wall 32 is composed, as shown in FIGURE 5, of a clear glass or plastic panel 34, which is painted to resemble a particular playing surface. For example, the panel 34, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, is painted or otherwise treated so as to represent a conventional checker board, that is, it is provided with squares of contrasting colors. Superimposed on the transparent and treated panel 34, which actually constitutes the playing surface of the game, is a panel 36, which is formed from conventional cellophane and which is red in color. Above the panel 36 is a section 38 of glare reducing cloth, which may be of any conventional type. Superimposed on the cloth 38 is a frosted glass panel 40. The various panels are mounted in superimposed relation on the upper, coplanar edges of the side walls 18 of the housing and are affixed in place by a molding strip 42 which is suitably secured to the side Walls and which is of a type so as to securely hold the panels in position to form the top wall 32 of the housing.

In use, the game apparatus is put in operation by a coin or coins, through the use of the coin mechanism 22. When the coin mechanism is actuated, the timer 26 is set in operation and a circuit is completed for the illumination means 20. The panel 34, which constitutes the playing surface, is illuminated and is exposed through the uppermost panel 40, on which the game pieces 44 are directly disposed. The game, such as the illustrated game of checkers, is played by moving the game pieces 44 on the panel 40 but over the playing surface 34, which is not in direct contact with the playing pieces 44. For the given extent of the timer mechanism, the surface 34 is exposed but upon the expiration of the time, for which the mechanism 26 is set, the illumination means 21} is extinguished and the playing surface 34 is no longer visible. This interrupts the game unless further coins are placed in the coin mechanism 22 so as to again place the illumination means in operation.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that other forms may be realized, as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A game board comprising a housing having a top wall which comprises a transparent bottom panel provided with a playing pattern and a transparent frosted glass top panel overlying the bottom panel and preventing the playing pattern from being visible; illumination means in the housing below the bottom panel and operative to cast light rays through the panels to expose the playing pattern to view through the top panel so that game pieces may be moved in direct contact with the top panel in accordance with the playing pattern on the bottom panel, and anti-glare means interposed between and the top and bottom panels.

2. A game board comprising a housing having a top wall which comprises a transparent bottom panel provided with a playing pattern and a transparent frosted glass top panel overlying said bottom panel and preventing the playing pattern from being visible, illuminating means in the housing below said bottom panel and operative to cast light rays through said panels to expose the playing pattern to view through said top panel so that game pieces may be moved in direct contact with said top panel in accordance with said playing pattern on said bottom panel, anti-glare means interposed between said top and bottom panels, and a transparent light filter panel interposed between said anti-glare means and said bottom panel.

3. A game board comprising a housing having a top wall which comprises a transparent bottom panel provided with a playing pattern and a transparent frosted glass top panel overlying said bottom panel and preventing the playing pattern from being visible; illumination means in said housing below said bottom panel and operative to cast light rays through said panels to expose said playing pattern to view through top panel so that game pieces may be moved in direct contact with said top panel in accordance with said playing pattern on said bottom panel, anti-glare means interposed between said top and bottom panels and comprising a sheet of fabric material, and a light transparent filter panel formed of plastic material interposed between said anti-glare means and said bottom panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,877 Bloch Feb. 17, 1903 1,266,457 Greer May 14, 1918 1,268,895 Thomas June 11, 1918 1,736,012 Parcell Nov. 19, 1929 1,929,846 Mason Oct. 10, 1933 2,113,049 Holland Apr. 5, 1938 2,356,057 Householder Aug. 15, 1944 2,458,892 Burdick a Jan. 11, 1949 2,596,259 Lewis Mayl3, 1952 2,651,521 Wales Sept. 8, 1953 

